Leon Gray, 49; Star Blocker for Patriots Football Team

Leon Gray, 49, who teamed with John Hannah to give the New England Patriots a formidable blocking duo in the 1970s, was found dead in his Boston home over the weekend.

Police said Gray appeared to have died of natural causes, although the cause of death was not immediately determined.

A native of Mississippi, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Gray earned academic and music scholarships to Jackson State University, where also he played football. He joined the Patriots in 1973 and played with them for six seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 1976 and 1978.

In 1977, Gray and Hannah, an eventual pro football Hall of Famer, staged a highly publicized contract holdout. Gray was traded to Houston in 1979, and finished his NFL career with New Orleans in 1983.